It’s 21 days of heaven for fans, and 21 days of torment for whoever dons the Maillot Jaune in Paris after 3,519 kilometers of racing. But what is it about this race that gets our pulses racing? In this issue of Route Scout, we’ll explore what Le Tour de France means to people, from both sides of the barriers—the riders who give their all and the fans who love it.

ROUTE SCOUT

TOUR DE FRANCE

We count down the days to the Grand Départ, making our Tour predictions and planning our days so we can watch our favorite Tour de France stages, uninterrupted. Our excitement is palpable. We're not alone. Riders are itching for it to begin, too. This is the race where legends are made and stories of heroism and tenacity are forged into our collective consciousness. The countdown ends and finally, it's here. Then we're treated to three glorious weeks of cat-and-mouse, from riders at the top of their game, against the backdrop of unforgettable scenery. 21 days of team tactics and individual triumphs, until an overall victor is finally selected. Only 364 days until it comes around again.

The Tour is 50% mental and 50% physical.

Marcel Kittel, Etixx - Quick-Step

It’s 21 days of heaven for fans, and for the rider who steps atop the podium in the maillot jaune for the final time in Paris after 3,519 kilometers of racing. But what is it about this race that gets our pulses racing? In this issue of Route Scout, we’ll explore what Le Tour de France means to people, from both sides of the barriers—the riders who give their all, and the fans who love it.

THE UNITED NATIONS OF FANS

For all the things that divide us as fans, there are just as many things that unite us. Passion for cycling is a universal language, spoken by millions the world over, and nowhere more loudly than the Tour de France. Welcome to the United Nations of Fans. In Yellow we trust.

YOU DON'T KNOW JACQUES

We’ve all met one—a fan who spouts Tour facts and rider data as freely as a hose left running wild on a lawn. Their passion for the Tour knows no bounds, but how well do they express that knowledge? Could you go toe-to-toe with a super-fan in a Tour de Fan facts battle? Here are some quick and dirty numbers to boost your knowledge.

I AM SPECIALIZED: TOUR DE FRANCE

Imagine suffering on the world's biggest stage for 21 days. Millions are watching, and all around you, hopes and dreams are being crushed by the minute. This is the Tour de France, and in this episode of I Am Specialized, we learn why so many gamble it all for a race that only one can win.